Molecular Approaches to Potassium Uptake and Cellular Homeostasis in Plants Under Abiotic Stress

Intracellular potassium (K) homeostasis is an essential requirement for the optimum processing of plant metabolism and overall functioning of plants. It is regulated by K ion uptake, efflux, and intracellular and long-distance translocation, which is arbitrated by a great amount of K-selective and nonselective channels and transporters placed at both plasma and vacuolar membranes. Various abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, water-logging stress, etc. led to drastic deterioration of intracellular potassium homeostasis. These stresses aggravate a K channel and transporter expression along with the posttranslational control of their actions and optimization of K absorption and consequently cause programmed cell death. Though there are certain specialized approaches which regulate the action of K channels and transporters by membrane potential, cytosolic Ca, reactive oxygen species, polyamines, plant growth regulators, and gasotransmitters are related to the adaptive plant responses to the unfavorable environment. Therefore, this chapter mainly provides an insight into the molecular strategies associated with the potassium uptake and homeostasis during different abiotic stress conditions.